Rounding and backing machine for bookbinding.



J. L. C. MERCER.

ROUNDING AND BACKING MACHINE FOR BOOKBINDING. APPLICATION men 050.12. I914.

1,237,537. Patented Aug 21, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC-12, 19M.

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ROUNDING AND BACKING MACHINE FOR BOOKBINDING.

APPUCATION FILED oc.12, 1914 1,237,537. Patented Aug. 21,1917

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1.][7/1/V LAUNUELUT CAPELMERcER.

L L. C. MERCER.

ROUNDING AND BACKING MACHINE F0 R BOOKBINDING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-12,1914.

1,23?,537. Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

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JOHN LAUNCELOT CAPEL MERCER, OF COBHAM, ENGLAND.

nouivnme AN BACKING MACHINE ron BOOKBINDING.

To all "witom it may concern: v

'Be it known that 1, JOHN LAUNOELOT I CAPEL MERoER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Bookham Lodge,

Cobham, in the county of Surrey, England,

but now serving abroad with His Majestys military forces during the war, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rounding and Backing Machines for'Bookbinding, of which the following is a specification.

The present'invention relates to an improved machine for rounding and backing books to the required curvature and with the shoulder desired, the construction of which will be much simpler and much less costly than machines hitherto employed for this purpose, while its operation willv beautomatic and require less labor and attention. 7

A machine constructed according to my invention is illustrated in the-accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, and

Fig. 2 an end view thereof.

Fig. 3is a plan view of the'toggle arms for closing the gripping jaws to hold the book while it is bein rounded and backed.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of one of the rollers for raising the book between thev gripping jaws. I

Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive are detail views of the carrier device for imparting the movement of translation to the books to bring them consecutively into position for being raised to the gripping jaws, and removing them from the machine after completion of the rounding and backing operation, and of the means for tripping such carrier device at the required times; the horizontal bar 4 being in these figures disposed verticallyfor convenience of illustration.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the opposite end of the machine to that shown in Fig. 2showing the means for operating the carrier.

Fig.11 an elevation and Fig.12 a plan drawn to a larger scale and illustrating the supporting bar for the books and themeans for adjusting the height thereof.

' Fig. 13' is a sectional elevationdrawn to a larger scale showing clamping jaws for holding the book and the backing roller for operation thereon, and the manner of actuating same. 1

According to my invention the sheets in the collected form to constitute the book are as shown at a in Figs. 1 and 2 introduced such curvature.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patented Aug; 21 1917 Application filed December 12, 1914; Serial no. 876,866. 1

either mechanically or by hand vertically on edge and with the back at the top between two stationary guide plates or cheeks 1 suitably supported onthe side frames?- of the machine at the required distance apart to admit the book or publication it for, which the machine is to be employed between them, and which distance may if desired be adjust-able to suit books of different thicknesses. For this purpose the cheeks 1 may be of angle form as shown in'Fig. 2 and the base of each be slotted to receive a screw 200, for fixing them in the positionto which they have been set.

: back of the book, the Weight'of which latter tends to cause the front edge of the leaves constituting the same to adapt themselves to A carrier bar or frame 4 is mounted to reciprocatej longitudinally below the. guide cheeks or plates 1 and at its rear end is provided' with ahinged part or trigger plate 5 which during'the rearward travel occupies its inoperative position clear of the book a which has been introduced between said checks or plates 1. When the carrier bar or frame 4 arrives'at the extremity of its rearward course the trigger. plate 5 is mechanically moved to a position behind the rear edge of the book a, and caused to carry same forward "along the stationary bar?) on the next forward travel of thefcarrier frame 4.

A suitable arrangement for operating the trigger plate 5 at the required times is illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, in which such plate is acted upon by. a spring 6 tending to move it to its operative position behind the rear of book a. On the forward travel of carrierv 4 the trigger plate 5 passes beyond a hinged trip lever 7, mounted on oneof the side checks 1, and which on the return movement acts on said plate and causes it to turn on its pin to its inoperative position, where itis retained by the engagement ofa small projection 8 in asuitable recess. This movement brings aheel piece 9 on trigger plate 5 in thepath of an abutment 1O situated on a flangeof one of the guide cheeks 1 in a suitable position to -1Tl16 forward travel of the-.carrier-bar4, (toward the right as shown in Fig. 1) car- ,.,1 and along the supporting bar 3 to a 'posi-/ act thereon on the completion of the rear-' ward travel of the carrier bar 4, and so turn the trigger. .Dlateback to its operative position. A pin 11 engaging a slot in the trigger plate limits theextent of its movement in relation to the carrier bar 4.

ries the book a, which is engaged by the trigger plate 5, ,to aposition beneaththe thickness of the book to be operated upon,

being adjustable to different distances to suit books of different thicknesses.

' In its forward movement the book a will have been carried between the guide cheeks tion where it will rest. on a portion 3 of the latter which is capable of a vertical upward movement whlch may be lmparted thereto at the required time through the. linkl3. lever 14 pivoted to the counter-shaft 15 andcarrying a roller 16 engaging a grooved cam 17 oncam'shaft 18 mounted inbear ings and suitably actuated in the side frames 2. The rise of the portion 3* of the sup-- porting bar3 will bring'the book it carrles to thevposition a between the longitudinal 'rollers 12, which are then caumd to grip I same.

12 is mounted at one extremity of a rocking lever 19, the other end ofwhich isby a link ed on countershaft 15 and one arm of which For this purpose one of the rollers 20 connected to a bell crank lever 21mountcarries a roller 22 engaging a grooved cam 23"mounted on cam shaft 18. A screw adjustment 24 enables the movement of the] rocking lever 19 to be regulated in order to adjust the'grip of rollers 12 to suit books of different thicknesses.

In order to allow the supporting bar 3 v to be adjusted to insure the portion 3* there-v [of raising books of different widths to the required .position between the rollers 12, said bar is composed of a lower part 103, 103*, to which the operating link 13 is pivoted, and to which the bar'proper 3,3 ,is connected by screws 45 working through worm wheels 46 engaging Worms 46 mounted on a shaft 47 capable of rotating in bearings on the lower part 103, 103*, of the bar, and fitted with a crank 48 for actuating same.

' alinement..- The outer section of said shaft I 47 is movable toward and'from the inner sec- 1 mentary partsof which are located on ad acent ends of sald sections, operates to tion thereof and a coupling 49, the comple couple them. A spring 50 normally holds the coupling in the disconnected position and allows the parts 3 and163 to rise togethen The shaft 47 comprises two sections'disposed in j in bearings- 38 carried by arms 39 pivoted .to a sliding bracket or block 40, "which is When coupling 49 is connected the rotation of shaft 47 will raise or lower the part 3, 3*, of the supportingbar-simultaneously in relation to the lower part 103, 103*, thereof,

' to the positionsuitable for the width of book to be operated upon, and on the release of .said shaft 47 the spring 50' will automatically effect the disconnection of the coupling.

When the booka has been gripped by the rollers 12 a .rotary movement is imparted to the latter in the direction to, raise thev book, with, the result of. imparting the required rounding to the upper edge orback thereof. A suitable manner of rotating the rollers 12 consists in the employment of flexible bands '25 one extremity of each .of which rolls around thespindle of one of the rollers 12, while the other extremitv is secured to slide 26 mounted to reciprocate vertically in grooves or ways in one of the side frames 2. The slide 26 is by link 27 connected to a lever 28 pivoted to the countershaft 15 and carrying a roller 29 engaging a grooved cam 30 on the cam shaft 18.

For effecting the return movement of the rollers 12 at the required time-a suspended weight may be applied to each roller so as to act against the pull of the bands 25, or

said rollers may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 4, where a spr1ng'44 which is placed under tension by the downward pull of said bands is employed for causing the rollers to rotate in the reverse direction when the slide 26 is caused to rise.

2 The rotation of the rounding: rollers 12 carries the book a upward until the rounded .,back passes between a pair of clamping aws '31, the upward movement beingfarrested when a certa n determined'portion of the back of the bookprojects above such jaws. One of the aws 31 is stationary, while the other is mounted to slide in ways on the top of the side frames and is operated to grip 'theloook a at the requiredtime, through the toggle levers 32 pivoted to the bar 33 fixed to the side frames. 2, and connected with the actuating link 34, carrying, roller .35, which engages a cam groove of the cam 36 mounted on the cam shaft 18. v 7

When book a 'has been grippedbetween the j'aws31, 31, with the rounded back projecting above such jaws to the required extent, a. back-forming roller 37 is then-by transverse movement brought into position centrally above such back. 7

For this purpose the roller 37 is nounted connected to toggle arms 41 pivoted to the bar 33 and operated by the arm 42 carrying roller 43 which engages a cam groove in cam side, and adjacent to the rounded back when stitutes the back of book a in contacttherewith should be regulated so that the moveried upward to, the required position, the

, plete the rounding of the back and by forement ofthe latter may continue for a suflicient length of time to insure that the action produced by thegrip'of the rollers 12 on theleaves of the bookrin' its travel will impart the amount of curvature which is required to the back thereof.

When the back .ofth'e bookhas been carclamping jaws 31 close andgrip the book a with the small portion projecting-up be-. yond same the distancerequisite to permit ofthe formation of. the shoulder on either same has been completed. I a I The jaws. 31 are fitted with removabl clamping cheeks 31 the thickness of which will vbe such to allow of the distance between same when closed varying to suit the requirements of books ofdifferent thicknesses, and their height and the curvature of their upper surface will vary to suit thevarying are required by the round of the back to be produced.

- The arms 39 carrying the back-forming roller 37 are operated to move in an arc of a circle of a radius corresponding to that of the curve tov be imparted to the back of thebookpagainst which said roller is caused to bear with the required pressure to coming the opposite edges over the clamped top produce the required shoulder on each side.

The upper edges of the clamping plates 31 are curved or beveled downward and the jaws 31 are cut away on the curvature corresponding to the'arc described by, the backing roller 37 toafiord the necessary play to the latter to allow it to pass over on each side to the extent required to act upon the full-surface of the back ofthe book.

The bearings 38 of the backing roller 37 are adjustable in the arms 39 to enable the arc through which the roller travels to be varied to suit the curvature of the back of the book being operated upon;

, For the purpose of operating the arms 39 their outer extremities are by links 51 connected to one arm of bell crank levers 52 pivoted to the bar 33 fixed to the side frames ,2, the other arm of said bell crank levers being connected by link 53 to lever 54 pivoted to countershaft 15 and fitted with a roller 55 engaging a cam groove in the cam 56 mounted on cam shaft 18.

After the back formingoperation has been completed by the action of theroller 37 the latter is by the drawingback of the bracket or block 40, under the action of the toggle arms 41, withdrawn from over the book, which is thus left free for removal from the machine, after the clamping jaws 31 which have held and maintained the book during such backing have been first released under the action of their toggle arms 32.

This removal or delivery of the rounded and backed book from the machine is automatically effected by a second carrier 400 arranged to reciprocate longitudinally to bring same under the book a held by the clamping jaws 31 before said book has been released therefrom, said second carrier preferably as shown forming an extension of the first carrier bar or frame 4: (but on a higher level) and sliding in grooves in the outer bar 300, and the two move synchronously. The rear of the upper carrier 400 also carries a hinged part or trigger plate 500 similar to that carried by carrier 4 and which by simi- ,lar means is on the rearward 'movement returns said plate, to position behind the book to be removed before the carrier begins its next forward movement. The abutment40l is secured in side frame 2 and is adjustable thereon to correspond with the length of book being operated upon.

The book carrier, comprising the frame & and its, extension 400, is operated by any suitable means. For effecting the feed stroke a flexible band 57, running over a pulley 59, has one end connected to the-frame 1 at a convenient point as 58 and its other end connected to an outwardly swinging actuating lever 60 pivoted to one of the side frames 2. A link 61 pivoted to lever 60 by auniversal joint connects said lever also by auniversal joint to a lever-62 pivoted on a countershaft 15 and carrying a roller63 engaging a cam groove in a cam 6 1 mounted on cam shaft 18. The return stroke is efiected by a cord 61 running over a pulley62 connected at its upper. end to the frame 4: and carrying a counterweight 65.

The whole of themovements of the different parts of the machine are so synchronized that the feed of the books to the machine,

the passage of same therethrough and the delivery therefrom are all effected automatically and contlnuously without necessitating any hand labor from the point a where the books are received to the point a at which theyleave. -As the lower or feed carrier backing roller=37, and subsequently together viously received from such jaws behind it at the point of delivery a. Between the forward and backward movements of the car-- riers 1, 4:00, the book resting on the movable section 3 of the supporting bar 3 is-raised between the rounding rollers 12 which convey it to position between the clamping jaws 81, such movable "section returning to its lower position in time to recelve the next book from the feed or lower' carrier Lon its neXt' forward movement.

The carriers 4, 400,may be each of a" length to receive two or more -books 'end to end and'to convey them to position beneath the rounding rollers 12 to whichthey will be raised so asto pass together and be acted upon simultaneously'by the rounding and conveyed by the upper carrier 400 'to the point of delivery a.

As hereinbefore stated the distance be' 1 tween theguide cheeks 1 between which" the feedof the books to'the machine'is effected,

. may if desired be adjustable: to enable the machine to be used for rounding and backingbooks of varying'thickness, and similarly the travel of the feed andnsupply carriers 4, 4:00, the liftof the movable section 3* of the supporter bar 3, the distance between the w rounding rollers 12 and the movable section 8 of said supporter bar on which the-books l. lift' the distance between the rounding rollrestin succession, as also the length of such ers 12 themselves, the distance of said rollers from the gripping jaws 31, as also the distance of the latter apart, andfinally the arcthrough which the rounding and backing roller 37 moves, and the extent of the trans verse displacement of such roller, and all of which will be regulated'to suit the particu- I lar size and'thickness ofbook to be operated upon, may if necessary or desirable all be IIGSSQS.

:What I claim as my invention, and desire I to secure by Letters Patent, is-' I guides, abackforming roller adapted to re-'- 65.

1. In arounding andlback-forming-machine for book binding the combination of elongated stationary guides adaptedto hold the book sheets passed betweenthem, a supporting bar disposed below said guides and sheets," one section of said supporting bar being vertically movable, a palrof rounding 1 rollers disposed above saidguides, a pair of clampingjaws disposed'above said roundalong said supporting bar between said ciprocate in an arc corresponding to the curve to be imparted to the-back of thebook, cooperative mechanism for actuating said bar section, rounding rollers, jaws and backingroller, and means for delivering said backed sheets.

2. Amachine' of the character described comprising elongated stationary guides adapted to hold the'book sheets passed between them, a supporting bar disposed below said guides and provided with a convex upper surface' adapted to contact with and shape the front edges of saidsheets, said supportingbar being composed of sections, one of which is movable"vertically, a' supplementary bar also composed of sections, one of which is vertically movable, adjustable connecting meansbetween said bars, and meansfor coupling and uncoupling the movablesections. I 5 8. A machine of the character set forth comprising rounding rollers disposedside by side apart from each other, means for moving one of said rollers alternatelyv towvard and away from the-other, means for entering book sheets between said rollers, clamping jaws disposed adjacent'tosaid rollers, and means for rotatingsaid rollers to enter the book sheets between clamping jaws. 1

l. machine ofthe character set forth comprising rounding rollers disposed side by'side apart from each other, means for moving one of said rollers alternately toward and away from the other, means for entering book sheets between said rollers, clamping jaws disposed adjacent to said =rollers,* means for rotating said rollers to enterthe book sheets between said clamping jaws, and means for adjusting the relative movement of said movable roller to; suit books'of difierent thicknesses. 1

5. A machineof the'character 'set forth comprising rounding rollers disposed side by side apart from each other, means for moving one of said rollers-alternately toward and away from the other, means for entering book sheets between said rollers, clamping jawsdis-posed adjacent to'said rollers, means for rotating saidrollers to "enterthe book sheets between said clamping jaws, a backing roller, and means for oscillating said backmg roller m contact with the pro ectmg edges of said sheets-wh1le they are held between said jaws. provided with a convex-upper surface adapted to contact with the 1 front edges of said 6. machine of the character set forth comprising rounding rollers, disposed side by side apart from each other, means for moving one ofsaid rollers alternately to -ward and away from the other, means for --entering book'sheets between said'rollers, ing rollers, a reciprocatory carrier adapted to engage said book sheets and slide them "enter the book sheets between said clamping jaws, means for-oscillating said backing roller incontact with the projecting edges of said sheets while they are held between said jaws, said clamping jaws having interchangeable gripping checks of varying height and thickness and of difi'erent curvature at their tops to suit different sizes of books.

7; A machine of the character set forth comprising jaws for holding the sheets to be backed, a sliding block, arms pivoted to said sliding block adjacent to opposite ends of said jaws and provided with vertical guideways, bearings adjustable in said guideways, a lever, links connecting said lever with the .upper ends of said arms, a backing roller supported in said bearings, and 15 means for actuating said sliding block and lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN L. MERCER. Witnesses:

H. L. HARNETT, W. M. Ann.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

